Collision kills rider of Harley

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man injured in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 2 Friday afternoon died Friday night at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Loyd "Alan" Meyers, 47, suffered severe head trauma when he crashed his Harley-Davidson on U.S. 2 near Rose Crossing at about 4:20 p.m. Friday, according to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. He died of his injuries shortly before 11 p.m.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, Meyers and a friend, Robert Navratil, 39, who also was on a motorcycle, were headed south on U.S. 2 when Meyers used the center lane to pass a vehicle. As he swung back into the left lane after passing the vehicle, Meyers' motorcycle collided with the back of a Volkswagen Beetle that Meyers apparently hadn't seen.

His Harley tipped forward and rolled - both end-over-end and on its side - for about 100 meters, Highway Patrol trooper Mike Haynes told the Inter Lake Friday.

Meyers was not wearing a helmet. Alcohol was a factor in the crash, the patrol said.

Meyers and Navratil were traveling at about 100 mph, and were using the center turn lane and shoulder to avoid slowing for traffic, Haynes said.

Navratil continued riding until he was pulled over in a parking lot at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 40. He was charged with driving under the influence, drug possession, driving without a valid driver's license and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.